RWNEFE -Chapter 36 Helping Grandparents or Helping Parents?

Shen Lanxi wasn’t idle either. The prisoners had their own arrangements; that had nothing to do with her side.

She needed to prepare the things for departure the next day.

Nanny Li, her son, and daughter-in-law boiled water, while Nanny Li and Chunxue and Qiushuang prepared dry provisions for the next few days.

According to what the master said, they wouldn’t be able to eat properly in the coming days, so they needed food that was easy to store and still tasty.

The three of them discussed and decided to make pastries, crispy rice cakes, dried biscuits, and jerky.

Shen Lanxi helped as an assistant and occasionally offered ideas. The dried biscuits were her suggestion: bake the prepared cakes until dry; for flavor, add sugar or salt inside—like eating dry bread slices.

Both teams worked energetically. After lunch, there was a short tea break. Shen Congwen, after arranging the constables, came looking for her.

Shen Lanxi, after giving instructions to her maid, lay down in her room ahead of time.

“Master, young master is resting inside!”

Shen Congwen worried about his daughter’s injury and didn’t want to disturb her.

“Is the young master’s injury serious?”

Qiushuang lowered her head: “Not serious, just needs rest in bed.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Congwen’s heart clenched. Surely his daughter said that to avoid worrying him!

“Sir, should I inform the young master?” Chunxue asked.

Shen Congwen felt heavy guilt—his daughter injured and still caring for the family!

“Don’t disturb her rest. I’ll visit her next time!” Shen Congwen said and left.

Shen Lanxi didn’t expect it, but soon enough, he returned—so quickly!

Before dinner, Shen Congwen came again.

If he wasn’t allowed to speak, he probably wouldn’t give up.

“Father!”

Shen Lanxi opened the door.

Shen Congwen sized her up. Her makeup was the same as before, and from her appearance, her injuries weren’t visible. He felt slightly relieved.

“I heard from Yuanjing that you were injured, so I came to see you!”

Shen Lanxi gestured for her father to sit at the stone table in the courtyard.

“Father, is mother feeling any better?”

Thinking of his wife, Shen Congwen’s expression darkened: “Your mother’s illness is psychological. With time, it will improve.”

Shen Lanxi: “Father, my injuries are minor. A few days of rest and I’ll be fine.”

Shen Congwen: “I see. Then rest well. Leave the work to the servants.”

Qiushuang brought tea, and Shen Lanxi personally poured it for her father.

“Father’s care is remembered by your daughter!”

Shen Congwen clenched his fists. What he wanted to say next was difficult. But if he didn’t speak now, he wouldn’t have a chance later; the grandparents wouldn’t want the closest person to suffer either.

“Lanxi, your grandparents haven’t eaten or slept well these past two days. Their health is weak. Ask the constables to let them eat with the other constables!”

Shen Lanxi sipped her tea, raising an eyebrow at her father.

She had never realized her father could be so filial!

“Father, you treat grandparents so well!”

Shen Congwen looked uneasy: “As their child, it’s only right to honor your parents.”

Shen Lanxi nodded: “I’ll discuss it with Liu Laohu so father and mother can eat with the constables.”

Shen Congwen was momentarily stunned. His narrow eyes fixed on his daughter: “Lanxi, do you hold resentment toward your grandparents?”

Shen Lanxi shook her head: “I am powerless and have little say. Now, our family is cautious. If I take risks, it will be for my parents first, then for others. My abilities are limited.”

Hearing that she prioritized her parents, Shen Congwen softened, but thinking of the other meaning in her words, he frowned.

“I’m fine now. Focus on helping your grandparents first!”

Shen Lanxi’s phoenix-like eyes grew cold: “Father is healthy. What about mother?”

Shen Congwen recalled his sickly wife insisting on walking herself, and guilt crossed his heart.

“Father, I understand your feelings. You care for your parents; I care for mine. If I can only ask Liu Laohu once, should I ask him to help your parents or my own?”

He could choose himself!

“Lanxi, can’t the rest of the Shen family eat as well?” Shen Congwen didn’t understand. Liu Laohu spoke politely to his daughter; couldn’t he ask for some favors for the family?

Shen Lanxi looked at her father’s troubled face: “Liu Laohu already gave the Shen family a chance: those willing to contribute will be rewarded. He keeps his word. Now he has delivered, giving benefits to those who put in effort.”

“Father, do you want Liu Laohu to go back on his word? If everyone got the same treatment, next time we encounter bandits, who will dare step forward?”

Shen Congwen felt ashamed.

“Lanxi, rest well. I’ll leave now.”

Shen Lanxi watched her father’s back: “Father, I’ll talk to Liu Laohu about improving the food for you and mother.”

Shen Congwen said in a low voice: “No need. You’re right. I’ve been narrow-minded. Let Liu Laohu arrange it as he sees fit.”

Shen Lanxi’s dark eyes followed her father leaving. A few days of ease, and they had already forgotten the hardships at the start of exile? Reforming the Shen family would be harder than she imagined!

Then let these little flaws slowly vanish over the long exile.

That evening, Shen Yuanjing and his siblings came.

“Big brother, we worked a lot today. Chunxue and Qiushuang even taught us horse stances!”

Shen Lanxi looked at their sweat-soaked faces and smiled: “Before, the family hired teachers for the Four Books and Five Classics, not martial arts. Your muscles and bones have set somewhat. Luckily, it’s not too late to start. Don’t rush, or you’ll injure yourself!”

The three brothers nodded.

Shen Yuantang: “Big brother, can I learn too?” She wanted to be as capable as her eldest sister.

“Of course, all of you can learn!”

Shen Yuanjing asked the question he had been holding back: “Big brother, who taught you martial arts? Why have we never seen you practice before?”

Shen Lanxi dodged the details: “I often went into the palace before, so naturally, I trained there.”

Shen Yuanjing thought: could it be palace guards who taught her?

“Qiushuang, bring the flower cakes we made today and give some to them!”

Shen Yuanjing waved embarrassedly: “I’ve eaten dinner, I’m full!”

Shen Lanxi: “These are rewards for your martial training. Take them home and eat slowly!”

Previously, Shen Yuanjing disliked sweets. Now that sweets were a luxury, he was embarrassed to take them from his eldest sister.

“Big sister, you’re so good! I haven’t eaten pastries for so long!” Shen Yuantang eagerly grabbed one as Qiushuang brought the basket. She started crying as she ate.

“If only nothing had happened at home…”

Shen Lanxi patted her head to comfort her: “It’ll be alright!”